Two defendants with extensive criminal records sentenced to death for trafficking large quantities of narcotics.

On October 26th, at the People's Court of Nghe An province, the High People's Court in Hanoi held an appellate criminal trial to hear the case against defendants Nguyen Doan Huan (born in 1969), residing in Thanh Khai commune, Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An province, and Nguyen Phu Nghien (born in 1968), residing in Xuan Tao ward, Bac Tu Liem district, Hanoi, for the crime of "Illegal trafficking of narcotics"

Both defendants have previously served prison sentences for various offenses. Huấn has been imprisoned twice for gambling and illegal possession of narcotics, while Nghiên has four prior convictions for drug-related and gambling-related crimes.

The two defendants are escorted to court. Photo: Tran Vu

According to the indictment, in early June 2019, Huan told Nghien that he had a drug dealer in Laos. On the afternoon of July 7, 2019, Nghien asked Huan to buy one block of heroin and one kilogram of methamphetamine. They agreed on a price of 190 million VND for one block of heroin and 250 million VND for one kilogram of methamphetamine. Nghien then transferred 350 million VND upfront, requesting to defer payment for the remaining amount.

On July 8, 2019, Nghiên hired a car to take Huấn to milestone number 23 on the road to Cầu Treo Border Gate, Hương Sơn district (Hà Tĩnh province) to receive one package of Methamphetamine (991.36 grams) and two blocks of heroin (706.16 grams).

At approximately 11:45 PM on July 9, 2019, while returning to Hanoi, when they reached Dien Ngoc commune, Dien Chau district, Nghien and Huan were caught red-handed by the police.confiscated itemsThat's over 1.6 kg of drugs.

The trial court sentenced Nguyen Doan Huan and Nguyen Phu Nghien to life imprisonment for the crime of illegally trafficking narcotics.

Following the initial verdict, the People's Procuracy of Nghe An province filed an appeal requesting the Hanoi High People's Court to review the case and increase the sentences for the two defendants from life imprisonment to the death penalty, arguing that the prison sentences were not commensurate with the nature, extent, and severity of the crimes committed by the defendants.

At the appellate trial, the appellate panel noted that both defendants had been tried multiple times, committed crimes constituting dangerous recidivism, and involved a large quantity of drugs. The Nghe An Provincial People's Court's sentencing of the defendants to life imprisonment was deemed disproportionate to the nature and severity of their crimes, and would not serve as a deterrent or preventative measure in the area.

Therefore, the appellate court accepted the appeal of the People's Procuracy of Nghe An province, amended the first-instance judgment, and sentenced the two defendants Nguyen Doan Huan and Nguyen Phu Nghien to death for the crime of illegally trading narcotics.